Occupational Therapy Assistant

Overview

Occupational Therapy Assistants help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments and promote independence through meaningful tasks. They work under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. They teach patients, clients and children how to use special equipment, modify their environments for safety, access education, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living and working Their goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.

2021-2022 RVCC OTA PROGRAM HANDBOOK (Currently being updated)

OTA Program Costs 2023-2024

OTA Program Graduation Requirements

OTA Program Outcomes Data

Verification of Licensure Results found in the “OTA Program Outcomes” document above can be found at the NBCOT Program Data Results page.

Accreditation

Why RVCC?

Graduates of RVCC’s OTA program engage in treating both the young and old. An OTA may work in the schools with children or young adults, in hospitals with those who have experienced a trauma or injury, in the home with a person who is striving toward independence, or in the community addressing health and wellness needs. These are just a few of the options available for practice.  River Valley prepares students for success regardless of the avenue they choose to pursue.

Career Options

• Home Care
• Mental Health Facility
• School System
• Geriatric Care

Related Degrees

• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Nursing
• Radiologist Technologist
• Medical Laboratory Technician

Printable Program Sheet

Program Goals

To prepare students/graduates to:

• Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes to effectively assist in the occupational therapy treatment process.
• Collect pertinent data regarding the client’s occupational performance in sensorimotor, cognitive integrative, cognitive, psychosocial skills and psychological components.
• Develop therapy plans relevant to clients’ occupational performance needs and rehabilitation goals.
• Implement therapy programs.
• Monitor and modify treatment plan as needed.
• Assure continuity of treatment through discharge planning.
• Assist in the management of occupational therapy services.
• Demonstrate values, attitudes and behaviors congruent with the American Occupational Therapy Association Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics\
• Accurately and respectfully use written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills to insure understanding in the delivery of occupational therapy services.
• Pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) national competency examination at a 90% or higher level for first-time test takers.

Program Outcomes

Graduates will:

• Demonstrate positive ethical behaviors
• Conduct themselves in a professional manner
• Establish occupational identity and behaviors that supports work with diverse populations in the evolving healthcare environment
• Demonstrate occupational competence as evidenced by provision of competent, quality patient care with the highest degree of professionalism and ethical behavior, including adherence to supervision guidelines.
• Employ strategies of occupational adaptation to promote health, wellness, and participation for individuals and their caregivers through purposeful activity, occupations, technology, within the framework of “best practice”.
• Demonstrate effective intra and interpersonal communication skills to support productive relationships with consumers, caregivers, coworkers,
• Utilize critical thinking and clinical reasoning strategies to address therapeutic problems as presented in working environment.
• Value and instill lifelong learning skills to support service competence, community service, and personal growth and development.

We anticipate restarting the OTA program in Fall 2024, and are waiting for confirmation from our accreditors before we can launch the official application process. Once the application is available, a list of program-specific requirements will be added here. 

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at River Valley Community College is committed to and shall:  Prepare post-secondary students to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist and/or related fields. Provide baseline orientation in both scientific and cultural foundations of a liberal education in order that they become productive and contributing members of the community. Empower students to continue as lifelong learners for professional and personal development.

Eligibility to take the certification exam

As of January 1, 2019, the NBCOT will implement its Policy for Presumptive Denial. Exam candidates who do not meet NBCOT eligibility requirements have the right to appeal any decision made by the NBCOT.

NBCOT Presumptive Denial Policy URL: https://www.nbcot.org/-/media/NBCOT/PDFs/Presumptive_Denial_Policy.ashx NBCOT Early Determination Review Any potential or current OTA student concerned about his/her future eligibility to take the certification exam, as it relates to his or her criminal background may participate in NBCOT’s Early Determination Review. NBCOT Early Determination Review Payment Form URL: https://www.nbcot.org/-/media/NBCOT/PDFs/early-determination-review-paymentform.ashx?la=en